Slide fastener



y 1966 M. A. ZIMMERMAN 51 SLIDE FASTENER Filed July 15, 1964' Me/i/e 14. Z firrmer man INVENTOR. 6/ WW K 7'0 United States Patent 3,259,951 SLIDE FASTENER Merle A. Zimmerman, 3930 Merwin St., Shreveport, La. Filed July 15, 1964, Ser. No. 382,902 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-401) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sliders and flexible slide fasteners and more particularly to a slider and interlocking fastener strips adapted to be joined by such slider to form an airtight closure and adapted to be separated by the slider to open the closure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slider and flexible closure strips adapted to be joined by such slider to form an airtight closure.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slider apparatus adapted to unite new and improved interlocking closure strips wherein such slider brings such strips into interlocking engagement with each other to form an airtight closure throughout the full length of the closure strips.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slide fastener apparatus including a slider and interlocking slide fasteners adapted to be joined to form an airtight closure and wherein such slider and interlocking slide fasteners are constructed and arranged so that the slide fasteners may be separated by the slider without the use of a separator finger or bridge extending between such interlocking slide fasteners.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slide fastener arrangement for locking slide fasteners together and for unlocking the slide fasteners without engaging the slide fasteners at their contact surfaces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slide fastener apparatus comprising a slider and fastener strip having longitudinally extending means formed thereon wherein one pair of adjacent ends of such fastener strips are secured together and wherein the slider is adapted to be moved longitudinally of such strips over such secured together ends to press the strips together in interlocking engagement to form an airtight closure and to be moved longitudinally away from such secured ends to spread-the strips apart and open the closure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slider and slide fasteners wherein the slide fasteners comprise a pair of overlapping flexible strips having longitudinally extending spaced grooves aligned with corresponding longitudinally extending ridges for forming a substantially airtight seal when such slider moves such strips into interlocking engagement throughout the full length of such strips. 7

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slider and slide fasteners comprising a pair of flexible strips having longitudinally extending grooves and longitudinally extending ridges formed therein and wherein the slider has means for urging such strips laterally together in interlocking engagement to form a substantially airtight seal therebetween and means for urging said strips laterally apart.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved moisture tight fastener apparatus including a slider and interlocking strips wherein the slider is adapted to move a pair of such aligned interlocking strips laterally into interlocking engagement to form a closure and for separating such strips wherein such strips are permanently sealed together at the closure end and wherein marginal flanges, which are provided on such strips to facilitate their lateral movement by the slider, are deleted adjacent such closure end to permit such interlocking strips to be completely engaged when "ice the slider is in closed position to thereby provide a substantially moisture and vapor proof closure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial elevational view showing one of the slide fastener strips of the present invention 011 a bag with the slider in position for uniting and separating the strip with an adjacent strip (not shown) for opening and closing the bag;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the opening end of the slider of the present invention with the slide fastener strips positioned therein;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the closure end of the slider of this invention and the fastener strips in interlocking engagement therein;

FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view showing details of construction of one of the interlocking slide fastener strips of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the details of an alternate construction of the slider and slide fasteners of the present invention;

Briefly, the present invention comprises a new and improved slider, designated generally 5 in the drawings and slide fastener strips 6 and 7, which are adapted to be urged laterally into interlocking engagement throughout their respective lengths to provide a substantially airtight closure, and to be urged laterally apart for opening such closure. The interlocking or mating strips 6 and 7 have a pair of longitudinally extending marginal ears or flanges 16 and 17, respectively, which are provided for engagement by corresponding recesses or grooves 50 and 51 in the slider 5 for engaging such flanges to urge the strips 6 and 7 laterally apart as Will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Thus, the present invention provides a new and improved slider and slide fasteners wherein the slider is adapted to bring a pair of overlapping fastener strips into interlocking engagement throughout their full length to form a moisture and vapor proof closure and for thereafter quickly and easily separating such interlocking strips to open such closure While obviating the need for a separator finger or bridge which normally extends between such interlocking strips in the sliders heretofore available and which interfered with and made very difiicult a complete seal along the length of the fastener.

Considering now the apparatus of the present invention in more detail, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the interlocking strips 6 and 7, respectively, are normally formed by extrusion of the flexible material through suitable dies to form strips having a continuous cross section substantially as shown, except for the ends 6a and 7a, respectively, which are shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings and which are modified as will be described in detail hereinafter.

As shown, the flexible strip 6 comprises a substantially flat thin member 20 having one or more ridges or rib-like projections 21 extending longitudinally thereon. Recesses or grooves 22 are formed on opposite sides of each ridge 21 for receiving ridges on the corresponding strip 7 as will be described hereinafter. Such ridges 21 and grooves 22 normally extend substantially parallel to each other to facilitate coupling and uncoupling the strips 6 and 7 with the slider 5 as will be explained hereinafter.

Each of the ridges 21 has a .bead or enlarged portion 23 formed at its outer end to provide a locking head for interlocking with the corresponding strip 7. Similarly, the grooves 22 have enlarged bottom portions 24 which are of a configuration corresponding to the locking heads 23 for engaging the strips 7 as will be explained.

As mentioned hereinabove, a pair of marginal flanges or ears 16 are formed on the strip 6. As shown, such marginal flanges are formed at the opposite edges of the thin member 20 and on the opposite side thereof from the ridges 21. Such flanges 16, which normally extend longitudinally of the member 20 and are normally disposed parallel relative to each other, project beyond the opposite edges of the member 20 to provide means for engagement by the slider 5 to enable such slider to separate the interlocked strips 6 and7 when moved longitudinally relative thereto, as will be explained hereinafter.

As shown, the flexible strip 7 is similar to'the flexible strip 6 in that such strip 7 comprises a relatively thin flat member 30 having one or more longitudinally extending ridges 31, three of which are shown, formed thereon and having longitudinally extending recesses or grooves 32. As best seen in FIG. 3, the ridges 31 have enlarged outer ends or locking heads 33 which are adapted to engage the enlarged bottoms 24 of the grooves 22 of the corresponding strip 6. Similarly, the grooves 32 have enlarged bottom portions 34 which are adapted to receive the enlarged locking head portions 23 of the ridges 21 to lock the strips 6 and 7 together and form a substantially airtight seal therebetween.

Also, as mentioned hereinabove, the strip ,7 has a pair of marginal flanges 17 formed at opposite edges of the thin member 30 so as to extend or project therebeyond. Such flanges 17 are provided for engagement by the slider 5 to separate the interlocked strips 6 and 7 while allowing such strips to be joined or mated together in interlocking relationship continuously throughout their respective length to form an airtight seal therebetween as will be explained herein.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the strips 6 and 7 are secured to adjacent edges 8 and 9 of an envelope or bag, designated generally 10, to form a substantially airtight closure along one edge thereof. As shown, such bag or envelope 10 preferably is formed of a pair of suitable thin flexible plastic sheets of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or the like, which are joined together at their marginal or peripheral edges by heat-sealing, gluing or sewing or the like, to form a substantially moisture proof and air proof envelope or container. As best seen in FIG. 2, both of the sheet-like wall portions or sides 8 and 9 have free upper edges 8a and 9A, respectively, adjacent each other to which the flexible sealing strips or mating strips 6 and 7 are sealingly aflixed by heatseal, gluing or the like. Also, such adjacent sealing strips 6 and 7 are permanently joined or sealed together at the end 13 as shown in FIG. 1, for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. Stop members 14 and 15, respectively, are provided at opposite ends of the flexible strips 6 and 7' to stop the longitudinal movement of the slider 5 thereon.

As 'best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the interlocking closure strips 6 and 7 are aligned in overlapping relationship relative to each other to facilitate the lateral movement or squeezing of such strips 6 and 7 into interlocking engagement with each other by moving the slider 5 longitudinally relative thereto as will be described herenafter. As shown, such slider 5 comprises a tapered 'body having a pair of inclined or curved sides 41 and 42, respectively, which are joined together at their upper ends by a transversely extending member 43 which may be connected to the sides 41 and 42 by suitable connect- 1ng means or formed integrally therewith as desired. As shown in the drawings, the side 43 preferably has a loop or other suitable connecting portion 43a formed thereon for carrying a movable tab or manual gripping member 45 which is provided to facilitate moving such slider 5 longitudinally relative to the strips 6 and 7 for joining and separating such strips as will be explained herein. The side 46 of the slide 5, which is opposite the side or top 43, hasan opening 47 provided therein for receiving the edges 8 and 9, respectively, of the envelope 10 which are connected to the sealing strips 6 and 7, as 1 described hereinabove.

As shown in the drawings, the slide body 5 has a substantially H-shaped inner configuration which is adapted for receiving the sealing strips 6 and 7,respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, projections 48 and 49 are provided in the opposite side members 41 and 43, respectively, for engaging the relatively .thin flat portions 20 and 30 of the sealing strips 6 and 7 respectively, to squeeze or force such strips laterally together. in interlocking engagement, A pair of recesses 50 are provided in the side 41 at opposite ends of the projection 48 for receiving the flanges or tabs 16 of the strip 6 and a similar pair of recesses 51 are provided in the side 42.

for receiving the flanges or tabs 17 on the strip 7 to facilitate separating such strips 6 and 7 as the slide member 5 is moved longitudinally relative thereto as will be explained herein. As best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings the slide member 5 has a generally wedge or wedge shaped or tapered configuration with the sides 41 and 42 being spread laterally relative to each other adjacent the end 46 a sufficient distance to cause the strips 6 and 7 to be laterally separated as the slider 5 is moved longi: tudinally relative thereto in the direction of the arrow 55.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the flange portions 16 of the flexible strip 6 are deleted, between the shoulder 16a near the juncture 13 at which the strips 6 and 7 are permanently joinedor secured together and the stop 14, to enable the slide 5 to urge the free part of such strips 6 and 7 together to form an airtight closure extending the. full length of the strips 6 and 7 from the stop 15 to the juncture 13.

It will be appreciated that having the flanges 16 partially removed or omitted from that portion of the strip 6 near the juncture 13 of such strip 6 and the st-rip'7, will allow the ridges 21 adjacent such juncture 13 to be squeezed or urged laterally into engagement with the grooves 32 of the strip 7 by the slider 5 due to the fact that as the slider 5 approaches the juncture 13, the flanges 16 are drawn out of the spread apart portion of the, recesses 50 and extend only into the portion of the.

recesses 50 which is in close proximity to the other flexible strip 7 as best seen in FIG. 4. Preferably, while the flanges 16 are drawn out of the spread apart'portions of the recesses 50, such flanges 16 are not withdrawn entirely a from such recesses 50 to thus facilitate movement of the slider 5 away from the juncture 13 without requiring realignment of such flanges 16 with their recesses 50.

Similarly, the fianges'17 on the strip 7 are removed or omitted near the juncture 13 to allow such slider 5 to move the ridges or rib-like members 31 laterally into interlocking engagement with the grooves 22 .of the strip 6 throughout the full length of such strips 6 and 7 and particularly adjacent the juncture 13 to form an airtight closure the full length of the strips 6 and 7 from the stop 15 to the juncture 13, in substantially the same manner as the flanges 16 as described above.

As shown in FIG. 5, an alternate arrangement of the slide fastener apparatus of the present invention is provided which allows a single die to be used for extruding the interlocking fastener strips, which in FIG. 5 are designated and 70, respectively, for purposes of de scription and explanation. When strips from the same extrusion are used, the free edgeSa of the bag 10 is joined to a surface 61 which is formed on one side of the ridges 65 by heat-seal, sewing, gluing or the like and the portion of the extrusion 70, which is identical to the extrusion 60, is reversed and the other free edge 9a is sealed or otherwise secured to a surf-ace 71 which is on the opposite side of the ridges 65 from the surface 61..

As shown in the drawing, the strips 60 and have a pair of longitudinal flanges or tabs 63 and 73, respectively, which are similar to and serve the same purpose as the flanges 16'and 17. Also, the strips 69 and 70 are formed with a plurality of projecting-ridges or riblike members 65 and which extend longitudinally of the strips 60 and 70 and which are provided for forming an interlocking fit in the recesses or grooves 64 and 74, respectively, formed adjacent such ridges.

It can be appreciated that in use, the strips 6 and 7, are first secured to their sheets or respective side members, 8 and 9, of the bag 10 so as to be aligned adjacent each other with their respective ridges 21 and 31 facing each other in overlappingrelationship. Thereafter, the strips are inserted longitudinally into the slider 5 with the flanges 16 and 17, respectively, being positioned in the recesses 50 and 51, and with the projections 48 and 49 positioned so as to engage the thin flat strip members 20 and 30, respectively, between such flanges 16 and 17.

With the flexible strips 6 and 7 thus extending through the slider body 5 and with the adjacent ends of the strips 6 and 7 secured together at the juncture 13, the slider 5 may be moved longitudinally relative to such slide fasteners 6 and 7 in an opposite direction to that of the arrow 55 to force or squeeze the ridges 21 of the strip 6 into the corresponding recesses 32 of the strip 7 while forcing the ridges 31 of the strip 7 into the corresponding recesses 22 of the strip 6 to thus force or squeeze the strips 6 and 7 into interlocking engagement with each other to form a substantially airtight closure along the free edges 8a and 9a of the bag 10. As the slider 5 is moved longitudinally along the strips 6 and 7 past their juncture 13, the ends of the flanges 16 and 17 pass out of the spread apart portion of the recesses 50 and 51 and extend only into the portions of such recesses 50 and 51 which are in close proximity to each other (FIG. 4), thereby allowing the projections 48 and 49 to press the ridges 21 and 31, respectively, into their corresponding grooves 32 and 22, respectively, adja cent the juncture 13 to thereby form an airtight closure extending longitudinally of the strips 6 and 7 from the stop to the juncture 13.

Also, it can be appreciated that with the slider and slide fastener arrangement of this invention the slide fastener strips 6 and 7 may be separated by the slider 5 without any portion of the slider 5 engaging the interlocking members or ridges 21 and 31 and without engaging the grooves or recesses 22 or 32. Thus, with the present invention the contact surfaces will not be scratched or scored by the slider 5 which will protect the slide fasteners from damage or wear which would interfere with their ability to form a substantially airtight seal.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a new and improved slide fastener apparatus including a slider adapted to urge longitudinally extending flexible slide fasteners into engagement throughout their respective lengths to form a substantially moisture and vapor proof closure and for separating such to open the closure.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slide fastener apparatus including slider means and flexible slide fastener means having a marginal portion including a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced ridges and recesses formed therein for engaging similar recesses and ridges in an adjacent flexible slide fastener means, the improvement comprising:

(a) shoulder means formed along both edges of said marginal portion,

(b) said shoulder means extending longitudinally of said flexible slide fastener means and on opposite sides of the longitudinally extending ridges and recesses therein,

(c) said shoulder means being disposed rearwardly of said longitudinally extending ridges and recesses, and

(d) means in said slider means for engaging said shoulder means to the rear of said longitudinally extending ridges and recesses for urging said flexible slide fastener means laterally apart without interfering with the mating engagement of said ridges and recesses.

2. In a slide fastener apparatus including slider means and a first flexible slide fastener means having longitudinally extending ridge means and longitudinally extending recess means formed on one side thereof and adjacent each other for engaging similar longitudinally extending ridge means and longitudinally extending recess means on a second similar slide fastener means, the improvement comprising:

(a) means for permanently joining adjacent ends of said first slide fastener means and said second slide fastener means together to form a juncture therebetween with the ridges of each slide fastener, means inserted laterally into the recesses of the other,

(b) separator means extending longitudinally of each of said flexible slide fastener means,

(c) means in said slider for engaging said separator means for urging said first flexible slide fastener means and said second slide fastener means apart, and

(d) said separator means being terminated at .a spaced distance from said juncture to enable said slider to urge said ridges of each slide fastener into the recesses of the other slide fastener adjacent the juncture of such slide fasteners to form substantially an airtight seal through the lengths of said slide fastener means.

3. In a slide fastener apparatus comprising a slider and a pair of flexible slide fastener strips having longitudinally extending ridge means in one adapted to be moved laterally into engagement with longitudinally extending groove means in the other, the improvement comprising:

(a) flange means extending longitudinally of said flexible slide fastener strips,

(b) adjacent ends of said slide fastener strips being secured together,

(c) means in the slider for engaging said flange means to urge said slide fastener strips laterally together to form a substantially airtight seal when said slider is moved longitudinally in one direction and laterally apart when said slider is moved longitudinally in an opposite direction, and

(d) said flange means terminating a spaced distance from the ends of said slide fastener strips toward which said slider moves in closing the strips to enable such slider to overrun the ends of said flange means and move the slide fastener strips laterally together throughout their lengths to provide a substantially airtight connection therealong.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,250 11/ 1953 Koutnik. 2,715,759 8/ 1955 Poux. 2,746,502 5/ 1956 Graell. 2,972,792 2/ 1961 Johnson. 3,173,184 3/ 1965 Ausnit. 3,220,076 11/1965 Ausnit 24-2013 FOREIGN PATENTS 956,320 1/ 1950 France.

1,084,488 1/ 1955 France.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SLIDE FASTENER APPARATUS INCLUDING SLIDER MEANS AND FLEXIBLE SLIDE FASTENER MEANS HAVING A MARGINAL PORTION INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SPACED RIDGES AND RECESSES FORMED THEREIN FOR ENGAGING SIMILAR RECESSES AND RIDGES IN AN ADJACENT FLEXIBLE SLIDE FASTENER MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) SHOULDER MEANS FORMED ALONG BOTH EDGES OF SAID MARGINAL PORTION, (B) SAID SHOULDER MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINAL OF SAID FLEXIBLE SLIDE FASTENER MEANS AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RIDGES AND RECESSES THEREIN, (C) SAID SHOULDER MEANS BEING DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RIDGES AND RECESSES, AND (D) MEANS IN SAID SLIDER MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID SHOULDER MEANS TO THE REAR OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RIDGES AND RECESSES FOR URGING SAID FLEXIBLE SLIDE FASTENER MEANS LATERALLY APART WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE MATING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID RIDGES AND RECESSES. 